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Anti-bullying training needed amid alarming cases, observers say
Education observers say poor character education at schools is responsible for rampant bullying in the country and have urged institutions to implement intensive anti-bullying training and interfaith dialogue to foster a sense of respect among people of different backgrounds.
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Bullying illustration. (Courtesy of/Shutterstock)
E
ducation observers say poor character education at schools is responsible for rampant bullying in the country and have urged institutions to implement intensive anti-bullying training and interactive courses including having interfaith dialogue to foster a sense of respect among people of different backgrounds.
The country has seen recurring cases of bullying from the elementary school to university levels, prompting watchdogs to raise the alarm.
Among those expressing concern is Jakarta State University (UNJ) sociologist Rakhmat Hidayat, who blamed the recurrence of bullying on character education being taught as a mere formality while social status continued to be seen as a major factor in determining how individuals treated one another in Indonesian society.
Rakhmat told The Jakarta Post on Monday that teachers had only been introducing the state ideology of Pancasila to students through ceremonial activities, such as assigning them to create Pancasila-themed exhibitions, without actually instilling its core values.
At the same time, excessive concern for perceived social status – such as through influence, wealth and charisma – persisted in society and perpetuated bullying, he said.
“As we can see from bullying cases at Diponegoro University [Undip] and BINUS school recently [...] the level of education does not necessarily reflect one's rationality,” he continued.
Read also: When politics is a schoolyard, bullies reign supreme
